72% wish to overcome isolation, seclusion started with difficulty building relationships: survey
Nearly two out of three socially isolated youth and young adults in South Korea have thought about ending their lives, according to the country's first nationwide survey on reclusive youth released by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family on Tuesday.
The survey, which defined youth as individuals aged 9 to 24, focused on those who spend most of their time at home or in their rooms, have no diagnosed intellectual or psychiatric disabilities, and have not engaged in education or employment for at least three months.
Out of the 19,160 participants, 12.6 percent were categorized as isolated and 16 percent as withdrawn — meaning over 5,400 respondents fell under the government’s definition of reclusive youth.
Seventy percent of the surveyed reclusive youth were female -- more than twice the number of reclusive males. Researchers say the exact reason is yet to be studied, but suspect that the difference in numbers could be attributed to male students' reluctance to participate in the survey or express their hardships.
The average life satisfaction score among respondents was 4.76 out of 10, significantly lower than the 7.35 reported by their non-reclusive peers. A secondary, in-depth survey of 2,139 identified reclusive youth found that over 62 percent had experienced suicidal thoughts, and more than 60 percent reported poor mental health. Nearly half said their physical health was also suffering.
Other signs of distress included irregular eating habits — with only 25.5 percent reporting regular meals — and reversed sleep cycles, which affected 56.7 percent of respondents. A majority, 50.2 percent, said they were afraid of meeting people, and nearly 60 percent said they often felt hopeless.
Despite these hardships, 71.7 percent said they wanted to change their current lifestyle, and 55.8 percent said they had attempted to do so. However, more than half of those who had not received help said they did not want support.
The most common activities among respondents living in isolation included watching media via streaming services such as YouTube or Netflix (59.5 percent), interacting with online communities (48 percent), gaming (45.1 percent) and sleeping (41.7 percent).
The data also pointed to a lack of awareness or concern among families. Nearly 30 percent of respondents said their family was unaware of their isolation, and over a quarter said their families did not consider it a serious issue. When asked about themselves, 23.7 percent of respondents did not see their condition as a major problem, and 17.8 percent did not even consider themselves reclusive.
The majority of respondents, 72.3 percent, had begun their isolation before turning 18. The main reason cited was difficulty in social relationships, such as with friends, followed by concerns about career and future prospects, particularly among those aged 19 to 24.
Kim Min-ah, head of the Youth Policy Division at the Ministry, noted that continued, regular surveys are needed to understand the full scope of the issue. However, she also acknowledged the need to coordinate with similar efforts by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, which has been tracking socially withdrawn individuals in older age groups.
If you’re thinking about self-harm or suicide, contact the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s helpline on 1393, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please request a translator for English-language services.
jychoi@heraldcorp.com
